Los Angeles Lakers followers can loosen up. Luka Doncic has been cleared to return for Slovenia simply days after a knee scare in EuroBasket motion.
He “was reportedly cleared to play for Slovenia,” ending hypothesis that the harm might linger, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Tuesday.
The incident occurred Saturday throughout an exhibition sport in opposition to Latvia, when a teammate fell into his leg. He limped off the court docket and didn’t return to that contest.
Slovenia’s employees made the decision to maintain him sidelined regardless of Luka wanting again in, and he was later seen sitting on the bench with ice wrapped round his knee the remainder of the competition.
By Monday, the information regarded a lot better.
“Doncic was in a position to return to follow Monday,” Chris Cwik of Yahoo Sports activities wrote. “He apparently got here out of that follow trying like himself, resulting in Doncic reportedly being cleared to play Tuesday.”
Slovenia now faces Nice Britain in its subsequent exhibition.
The timing is essential. Slovenia’s official EuroBasket opener comes August 28 in opposition to Poland, and Doncic’s look this week is seen as a optimistic indicator that he’s totally recovered.
This yr additionally comes with larger expectations for Doncic on the NBA degree. After a blockbuster commerce introduced him to Los Angeles from Dallas final season, he averaged 28.2 factors and eight.1 rebounds following the commerce. Earlier this month, he signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers.
The 26-year-old additionally labored on his conditioning. Stories famous he dropped roughly 31 kilos because of a brand new coaching regime. If that holds, it might imply the perfect model of Luka but coming into the 2025-26 season.
READ MORE: Luka Dončić Suffers Damage Scare After Collision at EuroBasket
